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CS/HB 355 — Health Care Patient Protection
by Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee and Rep. Oliver and others (CS/SB 68 by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services and Senator Harrell)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)
The bill requires each hospital with an emergency department (ED) to develop and implement policies and procedures specific to the care of pediatric patients in its ED. The bill provides specific items that must be included in such policies and procedures as well as requiring training on the policies and procedures at least annually.
Additionally, the bill requires each hospital’s ED to designate a pediatric care coordinator and to conduct the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment (NPRA) on a timeframe established by the National Pediatric Readiness Project.
The bill also requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to adopt rules to establish minimum standards for pediatric care in hospital EDs and to collect and publish each overall assessment score from the NPRA conducted by each hospital’s ED.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor's signature, these provisions take effect on July 1, 2026.
Vote: Senate 36-0; House 109-0